Well cementing apparatus



July 7, 1953 F. H. LEE 2,644,525

WELL CEMENTING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 24, 1947 flz57 l-, A 139.2. 119.3.

I l I i E INVENTOR I film m M/vprm Zfi Br film W A 7' TORNEVS Patented July 7, L953 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFi cgkj WELL CEMENTING APPARATUS Francis Hampton Lee, San Pedro, Calif., assignor to Baker Oil Tools, Inc., Vernon, Calif., a corporation of California Application February 24, 1947, Serial No. 730,342

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to apparatus adapted to form part of a casing or liner string, and more particularly to apparatus having side ports which may be opened or closed to control the passage of fluids between the interior and exterior of the apparatus.

An object of the invention is to provide side ported apparatus, forming part of a casing string, whose side ports can be both opened and then closed through downward movement of the portion of the casing string above the apparatus, in order to utilize gravitational forces imposed on such casing string portion.

Another object of the invention is to provide side ported apparatus forming part of a casing string whose side ports can be opened and then closed through downward movement of the casing string to effect a positive internal seal across the ports.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved side ported apparatus adapted to form part of a casing string, having both internal and external elements for determining the opening and closing of the ports through manipulation of the portion of the casing string above the apparatus.

This invention has other objects and aspects which will become apparent from a consideration of the embodiment shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. This form will now be described in detail, but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limited sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the claims appended hereto.

Referring to the drawings:

- Fig. 1 is a combined longitudinal section and elevational view of theapparatus, with the parts in their initial position closing the side ports of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a partial longitudinal section disclosing the apparatus with the ports in open position.

Fig. 3 is aview similar to Fig. 2, illustrating the parts in the position which they occupy upon reclosing of the ports.

As disclosed in the drawings, the apparatus is a collar A adapted to form part of a string of well casing by connecting adjacent casing sections B, C in spaced relation. Although particular reference is made herein to the use of the apparatus as part of a casing string, it is to be understood that it also finds use in a liner string, and in other conduit strings positioned in well bores. it

The collar includes upper' and lower telescopically arranged members Hi, I! with the upper inner member having straight external threads l2 (preferably righthand threads) engaging companion internal threads I3 in the lower outer member H. The upper member is provided with a threaded connector l4, such as a box, screwed onto the lower pin end l5 of the upper casing section B, whereas the lower tubu lar member has a threaded connector I6, such as a pin end, screwed into the box end I! of the lower casing section 0. It is to be noted at: this point that the upper member [0 has a lower externally threaded portion [8 below its straight threaded portion l2,inclined in a downward and inward direction and adapted to cooperate with a companion internally threaded portion IS in the lower member ll, disposed below a plurality of circumferentially arranged ports in the lower member. Such tapered threads I8, [9 are also preferably righthand threads and have the same pitch and lead as the straight threads l2, iii.

A sleeve 2| is secured to the upper member, as by means of welding material 22, and extends from its box [4 downwardly along the exterior of the lower member ll, terminating in a head 23 having. internal circumferential grooves 24 adapted to contain seal rings 25, such as round rubber seals, positionable on both sides of the ports 20 to close them against passage of fluids therethrough, and thus prevent flow of fluids between the interior and exterior of the apparatus. The sleeve 2| is provided with outer side ports 26 above the head 23,which are adapted to permit fiow of fluids between the interior and exterior of the apparatus upon disposition of the head below the lower member ports 20. 1

An internal split stop ring 21 is welded or otherwise secured to the upper end of the lower member II, which stop ring is disposed aboveand is adapted to engage an external split stop ring 28 welded or otherwise secured to the upper member ID.

termine the initial relative positions between the upper and lower telescopic members M1,. the purpose of insuring against leakage of fluids between the telescopic members through and be-.,.

'g the collar A ina well bore as I These stop rings coengage to deg-o For part of the casing string, the lower tubular member II is threaded outwardly from the upper tubular member it! until the stop rings 21, 28 abut, which precludes further unthreading. Such abutting insures the disposition of the inner side ports 20 on the lower member between the side seals 25 on the sleeve head 23, which precludes passage of fluids between the interior and exterior of the apparatus. Such ringabutment 2T, 28 also insures the position of the lower end 3| of the upper tubular member it) a substantial;

distance above the inner side ports 20.

The apparatus A is made up in the casing string to connect the upper and lower casing sections B, C in spaced relation. The entire casing string is then run in the well bore to its desired location, whereupon fluids may be pumped down the casing string for discharge therefrom at some point below the collar A, as, for example, from a shoe (not shown) at the bottom end of the casing string. Cementitious material, such as cement slurry, may be pumped down the casing string, passing through the collar A and discharging from the shoe for upward passage around the casing string towardthe collar.

Following discharge of the desired amount of cement slurry from the shoe, it may be allowed to set or harden and the casing string may be rotated from'the top of the well bore a predetermined number of turns to the right. Since the lower charge of cement holds the lower portion of the casing string below the collar apparatus A against rotation, which also holds the lower tubular member I! againstrotation, such turning of the casing string from the top of the well bore feeds the inner tubular member l5) and its outer sleeve 2! downwardly along the lower tubular member I l, disposing the head 23 of the outer sleeve below the ports and establishing communication between the inner side ports 23 and the outer side ports 25 in the sleeve. At such time, the lower end 3! of the inner tubular member I 0 has not been disposed below the inner side ports (see Fig. 2), permitting circulating fluid to be pumped down the casing string for discharge throu h the open ports 26, 25 and for upward passage through the annulus around the casing string above the ports. A second charge of cement slurry may also be pumped down the casing string for outward passage through the open ports 9, 26 into the annulus around h easing str ng. Following discharge of the desired quantity of cement slurry through the ports, the upper portion the casin string may be rotated agai to the ri ht a suffi ent num r of urns to rea the inner tubular member l0 and external sleeve 2! downwardly to a further extent, until the tapered ext rnal thr ads l8, n e the ompanim internal threads 19 on the lower tubular member H, whereupon continued rotation of the casing string and upper tubular member i3 feeds the external threads 18 downwardly and into firm wedging engagement with the internal threads I 9, in which position the lower portion 32 of the, upper tubular member it is disposed completely across the inner side ports 26, closing them positively to prevent any further passage of fluids in either direction between the interior and the ex terior of the apparatus (see Fig. 3).

As will be evident from the foregoing description and the drawings, the side ports 26 are initielly clos d to pr ven pass e of fluids in either direction between the interior and exterior of the casing string. Such ports are then opened 4 through downward feeding of the upper tubular member I and the external sleeve 2! secured thereto, to take advantage of the force of gravity acting upon the upper tubular member 19, its a sleeve 21 and the entire casing string above the apparatus secured to the upper tubular member H3. The gravitational pull on the upper casing string portion is again availed of through a continued downward feeding of the upper tubular tion with the plug method of cementing, since its internal diameter is substantially equal to the internal diameter of the casing sections comprising the casing string. As a matter of fact, it is preferred that such internal diameter be no less than the inside diameter of the casing string sections, to avoid the provision of any restricted portion in the casing. As a result, the usual cementing plugs employed in the plug method of cementing may be pumped downwardly through the casing string completely through the collar .apparatus A to obtain proper ejection of the lower charge of cementslurry from the casing shoe. It is also to be noted that the outside diameter of the side ported collar apparatus A is such as to permit the use of the apparatus in well bores whose diameter is not much greater than the outside diameter of theordinary collars connecting the casing sections together.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus of. the character described, including upper and lower tubular members threadedly attached to one another and adapted to form part of a casing string, one of said members having a port, and means on said other member initially closing said port and movable downe' wardlyupon downward threading of said upper member along said lower member in response to rotation of the portion of said casing string above said'upper member to open said port, said means including instrumentalities movable downwardly by rotation and downward movement of the portion of said casing string above said upper member to reclose said port after said means has moved downwardly to open said port.

2. Apparatus of the character, described, in-, eluding inner and outer tubular members telescopicallyarranged with respect .to each other and adapted to "form part of a casing string, said outer member having a, port, means secured'to said inner member and extending along the exterior of said outer member, said inner member including means extending along the interior of said outer member, both of said means being movable with said inner member relativel along said outer member to open and close said port.

3. Apparatus of the character described, in cluding first and secondtubular members telescopically arranged with respect to one another and adapted to form part of a casing stringsaid 4. Apparatus of the character described, nf eluding first and second tubular members threadedly attached to one another and adapted to form part of a casing string, said first member having a port, means secured to said second member and adapted to be disposed exteriorly of said first member over said port, said second member including means adapted to be disposed interiorly of said first member over its port, both of said means being located with respect to each other and said port that one of said means is disposed over said port to close the same while the other of said means occupies a position opening said port.

5. Apparatus of the character described, including upper and lower tubular members adapted to form part of a casing string, said members being open throughout their lengths and having interengaging straight threaded portions, one of said members having a port and a tapered threaded portion to one side of said port, the other of said members having a tapered threaded portion initially uncovering said port and disengaged from said other tapered threaded portion and movable downwardly over said port into threaded and wedging engagement with said other tapered threaded portion.

6. Apparatus of the character described, including upper and lower tubular members adapted to form part of a casing string, said members being open throughout their lengths and having interengaging straight threaded portions, one of said members having a port and a tapered threaded portion to one side of said port, the other of said members having a tapered threaded portion initially uncovering said port and disengaged from said other tapered threaded portion and movable longitudinally over said port into threaded and wedging engagement with said other tapered threaded portion in response to rotation and longitudinal movement of said upper tubular member.

'7. Apparatus of the character described, including an upper inner tubular member telescopically arranged within an outer lower tubular member, means threadedly securing said members together, said lower member having a port, a sleeve secured to said upper member and extending along the exterior of said lower member and having a head disposable over said port to close the same, said sleeve having a port above said head, said upper member having means within said lower member movable downwardly to a position across said lower member port to close the same in response to rotation and downward movement of said upper member within said lower member, said sleeve and means within said lower member being located with respect to each other in order that downward movement of said upper member first shifts said-head from said lower member port to establish communication between said lower member and sleeve ports and then places said means within said lower member over said lower member port to close the same.

8. Apparatus of the character described, including an upper inner tubular member telescopically arranged Within an outer lower tubular 6 member, means threadedly securing said members together, said lower member having a port and a tapered threaded portion-below said port, a sleeve secured to said upper member and extending along the exterior of said lower member and having a head disposable over said port to close the same, said sleeve having a port above said head, said upper member having a threaded tapered portion engageable with said lower member tapered threaded portion, said sleeve and upper member being located with respect to each other in order that downward movement of said upper member first shifts said head from said lower member port to establish communication between said lower member and sleeve port and then places said upper member tapered threaded portion in wedging threaded engagement with said lower member tapered threaded portion to close said lower member port.

9. Apparatus of the character described, including upper and lower tubular members telescopically arranged with respect to each other and adapted to form part of a casing string, said lower member having a port, and means secured to said upper member initially closing said port and movable downwardly in response to manipulation and downward movement of said upper member relative to said lower member to open said port, said means including instrumentalities movable downwardly in response to manipulation and continued downward movement of said upper member relative to said lower member to reclose said port.

10. Apparatus of the character described, including upper and lower tubular members threadedly attached to one another and adapted to form part of a casing string, said lower member having a port, and means secured to said upper member closing said port and movable downwardly to port opening position upon downward threading of said upper member along said lower member.

11. Apparatus of the character described adapted to form part of a casing string, including first and second tubular members threadedly attached to one another, one of said members being adapted for attachment to that portion of the casing string which is disposed above said one or more members, said first member having a port, means secured to said second member and extending along the exterior of said first member,

References Cited in the file of this patent I UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,214,555 Hayward 'Sept. 10, 1940 2,379,079 Hayward June 26, 1945 

